Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Stäubli launches three new six-axis industrial robots

by

Stäubli is launching three new six-axis industrial robots for the medium payload range.

The TX2-140, TX2-160 and TX2-160L extend the current TX2 generation and bring the total to nine models.

The company says their “rigid structure and smart design make them the ideal choice for a variety of applications in ambient conditions ranging from harsh to sterile”, adding that they feature the “highest level of safety and connectivity”. [Read more…] about Stäubli launches three new six-axis industrial robots

RoboDK, DIY-Robotics, and ATI release a ‘plug-and-play’ cell for robotic deburring

by

Robot software company RoboDK has partnered with DIY-Robotics and ATI Industrial Automation to release a combined application bundle for robotic deburring. The plug-and-play modular Robotic Deburring Cell can be integrated in just a few days. (See video below.)

With manufacturing industries changing rapidly, companies are increasingly turning to robotic automation to stay competitive. However, robot deployments have traditionally taken weeks or even months.

In February 2021, robot software company RoboDK partnered with DIY-Robotics and ATI Industrial Automation to create a pre-engineered, modular solution for robotic deburring that reduces deployment time considerably. [Read more…] about RoboDK, DIY-Robotics, and ATI release a ‘plug-and-play’ cell for robotic deburring

Agriculture robotics startup Future Acres looking to raise $3 million

by

Startup Future Acres is looking to raise $3 million to bring agricultural robotics to the farm industry in order to “optimize workforce efficiency”. 

The initiative to raise up to $3 million in seed capital is being organized through the equity crowdfunding site SeedInvest. The company is producing an autonomous, electric agricultural robotic harvest companion, named Carry, to help farmers gather hand-picked crops faster and with less physical demand.

At a time when farmers are tasked with producing more food than ever before to meet growing global population demands – predicted to get as high as 10 billion people by 2050 – limitations in labor and harvesting tools, in addition to environmental scrutiny, have prevented farmers from staying profitable and scaling their businesses. [Read more…] about Agriculture robotics startup Future Acres looking to raise $3 million

Motional operates driverless vehicles on public roads in Las Vegas

by

Motional is operating driverless vehicles on public roads, becoming one of the world’s first companies to do so. The inaugural testing took place in Las Vegas this month and consisted of multiple driverless vehicles safely navigating intersections, unprotected turns, and interactions with other road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

In pursuit of this milestone and a future of safer roads, Motional set a high bar for the industry. The company’s driverless operation follows decades of innovation, 1.5 million miles, and a two-year self-imposed safety evaluation process that took hundreds of employees more than 100,000 hours to complete.

During this process, Motional proactively sought external review. TÜV SÜD, a world-leading independent technical service provider with extensive experience assessing driverless technology, was given access to the company’s proprietary systems, technology, and operations. [Read more…] about Motional operates driverless vehicles on public roads in Las Vegas

Symbio Robotics raises $30 million and launches computing platform to make robots ‘more intelligent’

by

Startup company Symbio Robotics has raises more than $30 million in funding and has launched a computing platform to make robots “more intelligent”.

Symbio says it is “pioneering the next frontier of manufacturing” through a combination of artificial intelligence and industrial robotics.

Symbio officially launched the company today, armed with $30 million and a goal of “modernizing industrial manufacturing by breathing new life into existing industrial robots – making them faster, more capable and more flexible”. [Read more…] about Symbio Robotics raises $30 million and launches computing platform to make robots ‘more intelligent’

Berkshire Grey valued at $2.7 billion after merger with Revolution Acceleration

by

Berkshire Grey, a developer of integrated artificial intelligence and robotic solutions for e-commerce, retail replenishment, and logistics, has entered into a definitive agreement with Revolution Acceleration Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company, to create a leading publicly listed robotics and automation solutions company with a post-transaction equity value of up to $2.7 billion.

Founded in 2013 by the current chief executive officer, Tom Wagner, PhD, the former chief technology officer at iRobot, BG is a pure-play robotics company offering fully integrated, AI-based software and hardware solutions to automate business operations in warehouses and logistics fulfillment centers.

The company’s solutions help retailers and logistics companies meet the exponential growth of e-commerce and ever-increasing consumer demands. BG’s management, engineering, and commercial teams each have extensive robotics expertise and deep industry experience. [Read more…] about Berkshire Grey valued at $2.7 billion after merger with Revolution Acceleration

Postmates chosen as official robotic food delivery partner of the NFL

by

Delivery robots company Postmates has been chosen as the official on-demand food delivery partner of the National Football League this season. (See video below.)

As part of its service, Postmates has teamed up with the NFL to tackle “one of the biggest issues Americans face” – food insecurity.

Through this partnership, Postmates says it has been able to tackle hunger in all 30 cities the 32 NFL teams call home, and “even got a few friends to help along the way”. [Read more…] about Postmates chosen as official robotic food delivery partner of the NFL

Mercedes’ autonomous truck developer Torc Robotics selects Amazon as preferred cloud provider for self-driving truck fleet

by

Autonomous truck developer Torc Robotics, part of automotive giant Daimler Mercedes-Benz, has selected Amazon Web Services as its preferred cloud provider to handle the scale and speed needed for data transfer, storage, and compute capacity as the company prepares to launch its fleet of next-generation self-driving test trucks in New Mexico and Virginia.

Torc says that, with the growth in test fleet size, number of routes, and sensor capability, there is an increase in data ingestion and analysis needs by engineering teams in the US and in Germany.

Torc is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck, responsible for commercializing a Level 4 autonomous system that will be offered to trucking customers. As defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), under Level 4 autonomy, a vehicle is capable of performing all driving functions under specified operating conditions. [Read more…] about Mercedes’ autonomous truck developer Torc Robotics selects Amazon as preferred cloud provider for self-driving truck fleet

Norway’s Global Seed Vault reopens for first deposit of 2021

by

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, has reopened for the first deposit of 2021.

Sometimes referred to as a “doomsday vault”, it is a long-term seed storage facility with the capacity to store almost 5 million different seed samples from all over the world.

When construction began in 2006, the concept behind the seed vault was to ensure that Earth’s plant life can be replenished in the event of natural or manmade catastrophe. [Read more…] about Norway’s Global Seed Vault reopens for first deposit of 2021

Verizon to acquire autonomous mobile robot software company

by

US telecommunications giant Verizon has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire incubed IT, the creator of a software platform providing autonomous navigation tools to administer, manage and optimize mixed fleets of robots in industrial settings.

Rima Qureshi, chief strategy officer at Verizon, says: “This acquisition further demonstrates Verizon’s commitment to developing new and innovative businesses and use cases leveraging the power of 5G.

“Mobile robot orchestration is a real and emerging challenge faced by enterprises today. By integrating incubed IT’s autonomous software with Verizon’s 5G platform, we will have the ability to power robotic automation at scale. [Read more…] about Verizon to acquire autonomous mobile robot software company